What else can I do for coccidiosis in my brooder?

[mirandalola]

I have an outbreak of coccidiosis in my brooder. I started them on Corid yesterday (1/2 teaspoon of liquid per quart in their water), and it looked like they were all getting better, but then another one died last night and today many of them are acting lethargic again. These chicks are a mix of 8-day-olds and 2-week-olds.

I have 9 left out of 13. My brooder is about 2'x4', pine shavings in the bottom, heat lamp on top. I switch to a dark bulb at night so they can sleep. I clean their water multiple times a day and clean the brooder every day. The temperature in the brooder must be good because the chicks wander the entire brooder, chirping and scratching and acting like happy (albeit sleepy) chicks.

Beyond the Corid in their drinking water, I give them a mash of boiled egg, buttermilk, and fresh garlic once a day, and sprinkle oregano all over the brooder; the garlic is supposed to be an antimicrobial and immune booster, the buttermilk induces diarrhea to help clear out the parasite and also gives them more probiotics (their feed has probiotics in it as well), the oregano is an antimicrobial. I also started them on electrolytes today.

What else can I do to save my chicks? How long will it be before they start to perk back up? After starting them on Corid yesterday morning I thought I would be in the clear, but after losing another one last night now I'm not sure I'll save any of them

 

[cavemanrich]

I think you are doing everything possible. Only thing I would do at this point is disinfect their brooder completely (not just cleaning it.) Disinfect all other contents from inside brooder, like food and water containers. Get a fresh box and make a temporary brooder as you take the existing one outside and use full strength bleach to disinfect totally. Then when bleach dries out, rinse out with water and dry.
WISHING YOU BEST WITH YOUR CHICKS....

 

[crobbins2009]

I think that I read somewhere that you shouldn't give electrolytes with the corid. Research this as I'm not somewhere that I can. I am quite sure that I read the reasoning for this is because you are trying to starve the cocci, and the electrolytes actually feeds them?

 

[junebuggena]

I think that I read somewhere that you shouldn't give electrolytes with the corid. Research this as I'm not somewhere that I can. I am quite sure that I read the reasoning for this is because you are trying to starve the cocci, and the electrolytes actually feeds them?

Electrolytes are fine to use with coccidia treatment. It's multivitamins that should not be given. The treatment for coccidia is a thiamin blocker. Multivitamins usually contain thiamin. Counter-productive.
At this point, there is no point in sterilizing the brooder. And if you have to clean it everyday, the brooder is too small. Lay off the extras. Their systems are already stressed from the coccidia. What they really need is unlimited chick starter. Too many extras can actually make them more prone to illness. To encourage them to eat, you can wet their feed with some of the medicated water. Make sure you are adding enough medication to the water.

 

[mirandalola]

I don't *have* to clean the brooder every day; it went several days between cleanings and only just barely began to smell. I just thought that by cleaning it every day, I'd be reducing the amount of re-infection they'd be exposed to. So far they're eating well, but they love that boiled egg mash!

I picked some oregano sprouts out of my garden and gave them that, but then I had to run and attend to a kid so I didn't get to watch and see if they liked it or not. It wasn't there when I checked later, but it could just be buried under the pine shavings.

 

[junebuggena]

Have your chicks been outside yet?

 

[mirandalola]

No, they haven't.

 

[junebuggena]

Then I doubt it's coccidia. Coccidia comes from soil exposure. The first thing that comes to mind, when chicks suddenly start dying is overheating. When chicks are overheated, they consume a lot of water in an effort to cool down. This can cause loose, watery stool. Lethargy is also a symptom of overheating.
Can you post a pic of your setup? Do you have a temp gauge under the heat lamp?

 

[Lil Peeps]

I think everyone here is giving you pretty good advice, I'd continue keeping it clean make sure you clean the water and food dishes in hot soapy water frequently, keeping the brooder itself clean is important too. Usually, but not in every case, chickens contract coccidiosis by drinking dirty water so make sure those water is changed, like you said, several times a day, it sounds like your babies will hopefully be doing better soon, ive had chicks survive bad bouts of coccidiosis alive so yours can too. I wouldn't say that you had to stop giving extras as of Oregano and Garlic are really good for them, I'd say you don't have o keep giving them egg unless you need to because at this age they are getting enough protein from their chick feed. Just make sure you are giving them plenty of chick grit with all these extras for digestion you don't want coccidiosis and crop problems. Hope some of this can help, and your little babies make it! Sorry for your losses! I know it's hard to lose baby chicks.

 

[junebuggena]

After reviewing your previous posts, your chicks are definitely being overheated. That is what is causing them to die. Get them a bigger, more open brooder. Terrariums just hold in too much heat. I suggest ditching the heat lamp entirely. I prefer using a heating pad 'cave'. It allows the chicks to choose just how much heat they need and when they need it.